I just googled before as I wasn’t sure, but apparently they do eat bugs. But who knows what the little dudes intention was! What a cute visitor regardless.
Fun fact pretty mucy every Herbivore is actually an opportunistic Omnivore. You wont find pretty much anything that isnt happy to chow down on the occasional insect.
It makes sense, easy to digest and easy to find. Good way to get lots of protein that may not be present in leaves or grass.
They are very soft, I rescued one from a cat a few years back.
Reeked of piss, but that might have been because it had just been attacked by a cat. That's probably akin to you or I being attacked by a tiger.
Suprisingly, it didn't even attempt to bite me.
Down Phillip Island there's a place where they're semi tame and will sit in your lap and accept pats for a small amount of fruit and they are soooooo floofy
Picked one up when I was a kid (the dumb variety of kid), do not recommend.
Carried it like a cat, it didn't bite me, but - well, they climb trees, and my squishy arm was in the right place. Wasn't too bad! a random neighbor helped me deposit it on a tree with a minimum of additional bloodshed (on my part).
Yeah keep you paws away they have a hell of a grip and those claws ouch.. cut up an apple they love em or grapes but once you start feeding they’ll be back with a hunger
I wouldn't try to touch an adult. We found a very young ringtail alone in the yard a few years back, and he was surprisingly unbothered by being picked up. He sat in my hand with his tail wrapped around my wrist, happily eating a grape while we waited for a rescue to come collect him. So so cute.
I can highly recommend that you don't touch it! Despite how cute they look, Possums can be frickin' vicious! I say this, after seeing one bite right through my dads finger once.
Have you heard them growling? Most frightening hell-call, second only to koalas! They also carry all sorts of bacteria and disease, plus mites, ticks, and other parasites.
[In fact, here you go!](https://www.sciencenews.org/article/australia-mosquito-possum-flesh-eating-disease)
They take care of ticks. So don't hurt it. They are good to have around. It looks pretty young. Try to help him get some food. Can try to put out some small kibble of either cat or dog food, if you have a pet, and some water.
It’s interesting that its so grey. [The ringtails we have up here in QLD are almost red in colour](https://tooheyforesteec.eq.edu.au/support-and-resources/teacher-resources/ringtail-possum).
I wonder if they are Different sub species or just different colour morphs?
I’m not sure.
Red kangaroos and eastern grey kangaroos are 2 different species.
But when I looked up ringtails trying to work it out I couldn’t find any info on the variance - it looks like they are the same species just with a regional colour variance maybe?
([Kinda like how magpies have different patterns depending where you are in Australia](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Magpie-plumage-variants-and-their-distribution-across-the-Australian-continent_fig1_232248336)).
Aww, what a cute little friend!
We had an echidna wanting to come in like 20 years ago during the drought, poor bugger.
We all thought he was a robber and went out with a cast iron pan. nope, spikey friend wanting a drink!
Haha! Cool.
Yep! I opened the door expecting to tell whoever it was to fuck off, then I pulled my phone out of my pocket when I saw his cute furry face looking at me.
I've planted native trees (1 in front yard, 3 in back) since we moved in, and the council put a postcard in my letterbox saying they're adding more down our street early next year.
Agree. We have alot of new developments going up in my neighbourhood and with it comes the removal of existing trees. Never hardly seen a possum before till the knockdiwn/rebuilds started Funny, the possums seem to always end up at my place as I have an abundant of trees on my block.
I'm in an older area, not a lot of new development going on, but i do have lots of trees on my property and have planted more natives (gum tree, wattle) since we bought the place. Honoured to provide food\home for the local wildlife
My area used to be like this but it is all changing now. Great that you are looking after our native wildlife. Nothing will ever come close to topping nature.
Stock standard security doors. Allows you to open the main door and allow a breeze but no bugs or animals inside. Also fully key lockable so keeps out intruders.
Yeah i miss them - moved to the US and the only thing they have here are stupid glass doors - like that's going to keep someone out and you can't get a breeze!
Haha once the family finds out there’s a chance they’ll devour the whole tree 😬 they’re gorgeous but hungry, and don’t have a lot of natural habitat left. I think they prefer softer fruit though so you might be ok.
I was about to saw awe then reading this comment made me sad. You’re right I think, not enough nesting trees around. Hopefully OP can put up a couple of nesting boxes.
Have a few possums at my place. A little one I hand fed when he was with his mother and now a teenage possum. I call him and he comes right up to me letting me pat him while getting a feed.
It thinks the wreath is a dren. That is really cute. It needs a home. You should make it a proper dren, they are very easy to do with the hanging plant pots from Bunnings made out of that stringy material and the possum will be very thankful
Oh Pos Pos. Give him a bit of fruit and he'll be your friend for life .
He will also bring his large extended family. Years ago I used to participate in nesting box counts One box has 11 possums of all ages in it 😄
Cute but so unappreciative & hostile. I yearned for some gratitude from these fuckers growing up when we used to feed and house them in our roof. They don't give a shit!
That’s heaps better than what I had rattling my front door last night. Stupid green grocers. The ones that fly at your head unexpectedly when you walk outside.
When your Xmas wreath looks like habitat and a food source! Stop this! You just attracted a protected species into a vulnerable position and you think it’s a cute situation! Farq me!
Are you just being an argumentative farq or did you not comprehend the post I made. I will spell it out! Take that stupid thing off your front door because you are making ringtail possums think they can get a feed! All the while putting said possums at risk of attack from dogs or cats or (stupid humans like you)!
if the ringtails don't screech and howl as they fight outside my window at night and if they don't scurry on my roof when im trying to sleep then i have no problem with them.
edit: sorry i have no knowledge about different species.
Merry Christmas, Possums
That you Barry Humphries? I heard you died!
He did, but Dame Edna will live forever
I knew I wouldn't be the only person to hear that in my head while watching that
Weird, someone stuck a decoration under your door possum.
Haha!
My thoughts exactly.
The lights on the wreath and around the door probably attracts flying bugs. Maybe ol’ mates getting a buffet feed?
That makes sense! Probably hunting moths
They eat leaves tho, not bugs. Probably thought your wreath was edible and was investigating.
I just googled before as I wasn’t sure, but apparently they do eat bugs. But who knows what the little dudes intention was! What a cute visitor regardless.
TIL!
Possums are opportunistic feeders. They'll even eat carrion.
We had some that'd eat the dog food if it was left out over night, they really liked the dry stuff.
Someone changing their previously assure notions due to new information? You must be new to reddit lol
My profile says nope.
Fun fact pretty mucy every Herbivore is actually an opportunistic Omnivore. You wont find pretty much anything that isnt happy to chow down on the occasional insect. It makes sense, easy to digest and easy to find. Good way to get lots of protein that may not be present in leaves or grass.
Ringtails are folivores, so probably not, the vast majority of their diet is eucalyptus foliage. Brushtails are omnivores.
The Christmas Possum needs to be a thing.
The beetles didn't pull their weight, so it's time for the possums to step up
It is now.
OMG! Bless that beautiful nugget of love! Xmas made! SO nice. 😊
...and a possum in a door wreath!
Yeah, ringtail.
He seemed friendly, fur looked so soft! But I didn't touch him; even though I reeealy wanted to
They are very soft, I rescued one from a cat a few years back. Reeked of piss, but that might have been because it had just been attacked by a cat. That's probably akin to you or I being attacked by a tiger. Suprisingly, it didn't even attempt to bite me.
Probably just him, my dog tries to befriend them and gets pissed on often.
I love your simpsons style username
Maybe knew you were trying to help.
Down Phillip Island there's a place where they're semi tame and will sit in your lap and accept pats for a small amount of fruit and they are soooooo floofy
Don't touch them, they can carry disease
So can people
Yes!!.
Picked one up when I was a kid (the dumb variety of kid), do not recommend. Carried it like a cat, it didn't bite me, but - well, they climb trees, and my squishy arm was in the right place. Wasn't too bad! a random neighbor helped me deposit it on a tree with a minimum of additional bloodshed (on my part).
Ringtails are very sweet and docile. Brushtails on the other hand are savage and have attitude.
Yeah keep you paws away they have a hell of a grip and those claws ouch.. cut up an apple they love em or grapes but once you start feeding they’ll be back with a hunger
Have been bitten by one I thought was sweet and friendly. It hurts. Wouldn't recommend. Aussie mammals are cute but mostly grumpy bastards.
I think they're marsupials, no?
Marsupials are a type of mammal! They just split off from the rest rather early on, so they have a few unique characteristics.
Today I learned
I wouldn't try to touch an adult. We found a very young ringtail alone in the yard a few years back, and he was surprisingly unbothered by being picked up. He sat in my hand with his tail wrapped around my wrist, happily eating a grape while we waited for a rescue to come collect him. So so cute.
Sounds amazing. I'm jealous.
You’re not allowed to be jealous, you have a possum on your front door! No jealousy for you! (Just kidding )
I can highly recommend that you don't touch it! Despite how cute they look, Possums can be frickin' vicious! I say this, after seeing one bite right through my dads finger once. Have you heard them growling? Most frightening hell-call, second only to koalas! They also carry all sorts of bacteria and disease, plus mites, ticks, and other parasites. [In fact, here you go!](https://www.sciencenews.org/article/australia-mosquito-possum-flesh-eating-disease)
Jfc. This is why I can’t be trusted around our furry animals as I’ll want to pet them all lol
The worst call has to be the Tasmanian Devil. It's blood chilling in the middle of the night.
You just leave him be and he'll be on his way. It's the brushy's you chase off.
Yeah, that's what I did ☺️
They take care of ticks. So don't hurt it. They are good to have around. It looks pretty young. Try to help him get some food. Can try to put out some small kibble of either cat or dog food, if you have a pet, and some water.
Sorry but no, don't feed wild animals, it encourages them to seek out humans and that can be dangerous for them. Water absolutely, but not food.
Good call… they look cute but like all Australian animals, they’re vicious little f…ers.
No! Ring bell
It’s interesting that its so grey. [The ringtails we have up here in QLD are almost red in colour](https://tooheyforesteec.eq.edu.au/support-and-resources/teacher-resources/ringtail-possum). I wonder if they are Different sub species or just different colour morphs?
Cool! I've only ever seen grey possums! Must be similar to grey vs. red kangeroos
I’m not sure. Red kangaroos and eastern grey kangaroos are 2 different species. But when I looked up ringtails trying to work it out I couldn’t find any info on the variance - it looks like they are the same species just with a regional colour variance maybe? ([Kinda like how magpies have different patterns depending where you are in Australia](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Magpie-plumage-variants-and-their-distribution-across-the-Australian-continent_fig1_232248336)).
Cool Did not know that about Magpies. Thanks.
Aww, what a cute little friend! We had an echidna wanting to come in like 20 years ago during the drought, poor bugger. We all thought he was a robber and went out with a cast iron pan. nope, spikey friend wanting a drink!
Haha! Cool. Yep! I opened the door expecting to tell whoever it was to fuck off, then I pulled my phone out of my pocket when I saw his cute furry face looking at me.
At 0.09 second mark 'Christmas card sorted!'
Touring the neighbourhood Christmas lights 🎄
Someone's after lamingtons
Now that's some Possum Magic!
He wants prawns, cherries and pudding
Was expecting a giant spider, but pleasantly surprised.
A spider large enough to rattle a wreath would be quite a sight!
Lol
Poor lil guy looks frightened. Too many trees around the neighbourhood getting cut down and they have nowhere to go.
I've planted native trees (1 in front yard, 3 in back) since we moved in, and the council put a postcard in my letterbox saying they're adding more down our street early next year.
Agree. We have alot of new developments going up in my neighbourhood and with it comes the removal of existing trees. Never hardly seen a possum before till the knockdiwn/rebuilds started Funny, the possums seem to always end up at my place as I have an abundant of trees on my block.
I'm in an older area, not a lot of new development going on, but i do have lots of trees on my property and have planted more natives (gum tree, wattle) since we bought the place. Honoured to provide food\home for the local wildlife
My area used to be like this but it is all changing now. Great that you are looking after our native wildlife. Nothing will ever come close to topping nature.
Yes
Hello Possum!
Living in the USA, I have never seen a front door design like this. Super cool.
Stock standard security doors. Allows you to open the main door and allow a breeze but no bugs or animals inside. Also fully key lockable so keeps out intruders.
Looks great. And they serve a purpose!
Yeah i miss them - moved to the US and the only thing they have here are stupid glass doors - like that's going to keep someone out and you can't get a breeze!
I don't get why we don't just have a single reinforced door with a built in openable cover and removable screen for cleaning
I didn't expect the door to impress anyone! Didn't know that Security screen doors were unique to Australian homes. TIL
Naww, yes a happy little ringtail! They love a bit of fresh fruit - he may have thought your wreath had berries on it?
Just checked the apple tree in the back yard. He must have had a nibble I can see tiny teeth marks
Haha once the family finds out there’s a chance they’ll devour the whole tree 😬 they’re gorgeous but hungry, and don’t have a lot of natural habitat left. I think they prefer softer fruit though so you might be ok.
A possum from Santa!!!!. Yay, best present like ever.
Greet video
Wait, this isn't my tree
Oh wow how wonderful
cute. give him a xmas apple
I worry that it has resorted to that wreath as there are no other tree options, can you set them up a box so they have somewhere to live?
Nah, there's a big gum tree in my front yard and lots of other trees around. He scurried off towards the apple tree and helped himself to some fruit
I was about to saw awe then reading this comment made me sad. You’re right I think, not enough nesting trees around. Hopefully OP can put up a couple of nesting boxes.
Have a few possums at my place. A little one I hand fed when he was with his mother and now a teenage possum. I call him and he comes right up to me letting me pat him while getting a feed.
Wow, how gorgeous, a little Ringtail.
😍😍😍😍😍
Awesome post 😁
Thanks! I don't post much on Reddit. Been here for 13 years this is the first time I've had something to share
Santa's little helper!
Too cute
That’s so cute!
Cute
Pretty sure you have to kiss him. Mistletoe rules.
😆
I call the big one bitey
So cute!
Oh my gosh that’s so adorable!!!
It thinks the wreath is a dren. That is really cute. It needs a home. You should make it a proper dren, they are very easy to do with the hanging plant pots from Bunnings made out of that stringy material and the possum will be very thankful
Awww. I want a Christmas possum.
They be looking at you like "MMM bush"
hypnotic eyees
He's so fucking cute oh my god
What a sweetie. Try it on some peanut butter on apple.
He’s so cute!!!
Possum girllllll that’s not a real tree 😆
I was bracing myself for something far more hideous e.g. huntsman
if i fits i sits.
Possum magic.
He’s just a little friend 😍
Most aussie Christmas
Possum Magic
That's cute. You answered your own question as a ringtail obviously doesn't have a brushtail!
got some froots?
How kind of you to provide a pre-decorated Xmas nest!
He's just checking to see that all your Christmas decorations are up to regulation.
"If I keep _really_ still I'm sure this human won't even notice me in this bush.."
Oh Pos Pos. Give him a bit of fruit and he'll be your friend for life . He will also bring his large extended family. Years ago I used to participate in nesting box counts One box has 11 possums of all ages in it 😄
Bro just loves Christmas
My partner and I came back from a night out on Saturday, turned the light on in the bedroom, and there was a possum chilling on the open window sill.
Christmas Possum
Awww 🥹 that's ridiculously adorable 🥰
He doesn't seem the least bit worried
Not in the slightest. He's practically posing for the video!
What a little cutie! They were probably attracted by tinsel and lights on the wreath
Awwww so sweet
His face looks like he’s saying “oh shit, I’ve been sprung”. Very cute tho
Okay, she's cute. Ditzy, but cute
A photo containing both “Merry Christmas” and the possum wreath should be your Xmas card this year :-D
What a cutie! Love this 😍
Looks like someone else wanted to be part of the Christmas festivities
Happened to me years ago. He was not welcomed inside!
Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal
Cute but so unappreciative & hostile. I yearned for some gratitude from these fuckers growing up when we used to feed and house them in our roof. They don't give a shit!
Merry Christmas ya filthy animal
Thought there was a possum inside your PC for a minute... xD
Yoink mine now
And you didn’t offer him an apple slice you barbarian?! He was so polite!
This is so cute. We get ringtails too. Generally not as problematic to the house as regular possums. I'm kinda jealous ngl.
Dinner
Haha No, we don't do that here
Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal(possum)
Poor thing has his nuts caught
Prolly watch a bit those things can be aggressive on occasions
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQo0d_2spLGfqUfp8ZvNCagTWR31PhTi15y2g&usqp=CAU
Don’t know how to paste pictures
That’s heaps better than what I had rattling my front door last night. Stupid green grocers. The ones that fly at your head unexpectedly when you walk outside.
Friend shaped :)
Cheeky bugger haha
Looked like you were opening a pc case XD
Bro looks puzzled
Possum at my door and I wanna touch it!🎶🎵🎶
Possum, you're gonna spend the night?
I've had a ringtail just hang out on my screen door as well
Any guess why?
I think they just like climbing stuff haha,plus maybe it feels warmer or cooler
Could be worse - could be pissing on your car windscreen.
That pretty Christmas decoration looked delicious
Old mate looking at you because your wreath tastes like poo
Delicious roasted!
When your Xmas wreath looks like habitat and a food source! Stop this! You just attracted a protected species into a vulnerable position and you think it’s a cute situation! Farq me!
If it was edible, wouldn't that be worse? Then I'd be providing food to a wild animal and fostering dependence on humans.
Are you just being an argumentative farq or did you not comprehend the post I made. I will spell it out! Take that stupid thing off your front door because you are making ringtail possums think they can get a feed! All the while putting said possums at risk of attack from dogs or cats or (stupid humans like you)!
Yes sir I will take it down right away!
these need to be killed off
What a sick bloody world this is.
they are pests.
You're thinking of Brush Tail Possums maybe? (I think those are the ones that nest in your roof and fight loudly at night) Ring-Tails only spread joy.
if the ringtails don't screech and howl as they fight outside my window at night and if they don't scurry on my roof when im trying to sleep then i have no problem with them. edit: sorry i have no knowledge about different species.
Why??? It's native, not introduced or feral
The look he gives you says, "Did you want this?"